Safety Provisions (Building) Convention, 1937 (No. 62) - Greece (RATIFICATION: 1984)

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Legislation. The Committee notes the Government’s reference in its report to a number of laws and regulations adopted between 2011 and 2014, including Ministerial Decision No. 4229/395/2013 of 15 February 2013 on the “establishment and operation of enterprises active in demolition and asbestos removal works and/or removal work of materials containing asbestos from buildings, constructions, equipment, facilities and vessels, as well as maintenance, coating and encapsulation of asbestos and/or materials containing asbestos” and Ministerial Decision No. 14867/825/2014 “simplifying record keeping procedures for issues relating to occupational safety and health in construction projects”.

Article 6 of the Convention. Statistics. Application in practice. The Committee notes the detailed statistical information provided by the Government. It takes note, in particular, of the steady decrease in the number of workers employed in the construction sector, from 8.6 per cent of the total workforce in 2007 to 4.1 per cent in 2015. Further to its previous comment, the Committee welcomes the decrease in the number of industrial accidents in the construction sector from 582 in 2010 to 398 in 2014, and the reduction of fatal accidents by 50 per cent in the same period (from 36 in 2010 to 18 in 2014). In this regard, the Committee notes that most non-fatal injuries are caused by slipping, stumbling and falling of persons. However, the Committee notes that there seems to be an apparent discrepancy between the number of fatal injuries reported and statistics provided concerning the causes of these fatal injuries. The Committee also takes note of the statistical information provided concerning lawsuits initiated and fines imposed by occupational safety and health inspectors in the construction sector between 2010 and 2014. The Committee requests the Government to provide clarification regarding the discrepancy in the number of fatal accidents reported. It also requests the Government to continue to provide information on the application of the Convention in practice, including statistics on the number of workers covered by the relevant legislation, the number, nature and cause of work-related accidents and occupational diseases registered and measures taken to address the causes of these accidents and diseases, and the number and nature of contraventions reported.

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The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report and in Presidential Decree No. 212/2006 concerning the “Protection of workers who are exposed to asbestos at work” and the Ministerial Decision No. 210167/84/2009 on the “Terms and conditions of the operation of undertakings engaged in works of demolition and removal of asbestos and/or materials containing asbestos from buildings, constructions, appliances, plants and vessels as well as in works related to the maintenance, sealing and encapsulation of asbestos and/or materials containing asbestos” attached thereto.

Article 6 of the Convention. Statistics. According to statistics provided by the Government, the number of persons employed in the construction industry appears to have declined somewhat since a peak in 2007. The Committee notes with concern the statistics provided also indicate that the number of accidents in the building industry increased from 683 in 2005 to 872 in 2008 which represents a 25 per cent increase. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on measures taken to address these developments regarding the practical application of the Convention.

Ratification prospects regarding the Safety and Health in Construction Convention, 1988 (No. 167). The Committee notes with interest the information provided regarding the considerations given to a possible ratification of Convention No. 167 within the framework of the Tripartite Council for the Health and Safety at Work; the overview of existing legislation giving effect to many of the provisions of Convention No. 167; and regarding the reservations expressed regarding the effect given to Article 6 and 21 of Convention No. 167. The Committee takes this opportunity to recall to the Government that the Office is at its disposal should the Government wish to request any clarifications regarding the provisions of this or any other Convention. The Committee invites the Government to keep it informed on any decisions taken regarding a possible ratification of the Safety and Health in Construction Convention, 1988 (No. 167).

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1. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report and the adoption of regulations concerning occupational risk prevention during project planning (DIPAP/177/2-3-2001-O.J.266/B/14-3-2001), the establishment of an occupational safety and health plan for public works (DEEPP/85/14-5-2001-O.J.686/B/1-6-2001), occupational risk prevention and confrontation during construction of public works DIPAP/889/27-11-2002-O.J.16/B/14-1-2003, and the publication of the PD 155/2004 "Amendment of PD 394/94 in compliance with Directive 2001/45/EC" including regulations for scaffolding and general access systems for works at height.

2. Article 6. Statistics. The Committee notes with interest that according to statistics provided by the Government, the number of persons working in the construction industry appears to be on the increase but that since rising numbers of accidents in 2002 and 2003, the number of accidents recorded appear to have decreased in 2004 in both absolute and relative terms. The Committee requests the Government to continue to supply information and statistics on the practical application of the Convention.

3. The Committee also notes with interest the declared intention by the Government to consider ratifying the Safety and Health in Construction Convention, 1988 (No. 167), which, as the Governing Body has already noted (document GB.268/8/2), is an instrument that might be more adapted to the current situation in the building industry than the present Convention. The Committee invites the Government to keep it informed on any decisions taken in this respect.

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The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report. It notes the adoption of different laws and regulations that have a bearing on safety in the construction industry.

Article 4 of the Convention. The Committee notes the restructuring of and the new direction given to labour inspection effective as of 1 July 1999, in application of Law 2639/98 providing for labour relations, establishment of the labour inspectorate and other provisions. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information to the Office on any follow-up given to the restructuring of labour inspection and in particular as concerns labour inspection in the building industry.

Article 6. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government on the number of persons working in the building industry and who are thus covered by the statistics supplied. The Committee encourages the Government to continue to provide the Office with information on the practical application of the Convention.

The Committee draws the Government’s attention to the Safety and Health in Construction Convention, 1988 (No. 167), which revises Convention No. 62 of 1937 and which might be more adapted to the current situation of the building industry. The Committee recalls that the Governing Body of the ILO had invited member States parties to Convention No. 62, to contemplate ratifying Convention No. 167, the ratification of which will, ipso jure, imply the immediate denunciation of Convention No. 62 (document GB.268/8/2). The Committee asks the Government to provide information on any developments in this regard.